Coming: Environment watchdog with teeth

To protect the environment, the Government will set up a regulatory authority on the lines of United States’ Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to 'strictly' enforce 20 environmental laws, reports Chetan Chauhan.

To protect the environment, the government will set up a regulatory authority on the lines of United States’ Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to “strictly” enforce 20 environmental laws.

India has laws to ensure cleaner air and water, protect bio-diversity and handle toxic waste — but enforcement has been weak because of toothless bodies like the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

This is set to change. “In three months we’ll introduce a Bill to set up an independent, professional and scientific environment protection agency with powers to punish polluters,” Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told HT.